Jean Ladrière Over 'La Raison De L'augure'
Jean Ladrière (1924-2007)
was a mythical professor and philosopher
at the Institute of Philosophy
of the University of Leuven
in its heyday.
His immense consistency,
all,
in his institute recognized it
and outside the institute, knew it.
And this is still known today
in this university and in the world
where his ‘oeuvre’ works
because it is unavoidable.
Independently of his own work
he was an immense professor.
I followed his courses for a long time.
He gave an understanding of the works of philosophy
probably better than their own authors could have done.
And this was done through an enunciation of the most powerful simplicity.
When my doctoral thesis was submitted to the thesis committee of my faculty,
there was a blockade organized by some teachers
known only for their inconsistency.
Jean Ladrière then read this thesis
and the document below
is the record of his criticism and judgment.
The content of this document,
accompanied
the judgement of Alain Badiou,
and the stimulations of Alessandro Anselmi
was what ordered me to continue,
almost alone,
the work I had begun.
I express my gratitude here,
which I hope will sustain his Salute and his Immortality,
to Professor Jean Ladrière
whose opinion
of great authority
concludes with these words:
The thesis of Mr. Belderbos,
offers us a true philosophy of Architecture,
self-consistent,
that truly advances thought'.
‘Note concerning the thesis of Mr. Marc Belderbos
The thesis of Mr. Marc Belderbos constitutes a work of rare originality and exceptional speculative vigor.
It proposes an authentic theory of architecture, which does not consist in applying to architecture concepts borrowed from other disciplines or from a priori philosophical views, but in giving us an understanding of architecture from itself.
The interpretation developed by M. Belderbos is both the highlighting of "what in architecture makes architecture" and the putting into perspective of the destiny of Western architecture, from its Greek origins to the forms it has taken in the works of the great contemporary creators. It is also an understanding of architecture, therefore in the very process of its self-constitution.
Belderbos uses a number of classical philosophical concepts, such as reason, discourse, reality, identity, matter, form, logic and aesthetic ethics. But he gives an extremely personal interpretation of them, according to the internal requirements of the development of his reflection. One must unreservedly admire the strength of thought that allows him to rigorously re-elaborate all this conceptual apparatus according to the strict coherence of his project, and which also allows him to give it a systematic articulation supported by an astonishing creativity.
It must also be said that the proposed interpretation of the history of Western architecture makes a most interesting contribution to the understanding of the historicity characterizing Western culture and the destiny of reason. The first part of the book develops the theoretical basis of the relationship between architecture and reason.
M. Belderbos' thesis thus offers us a true philosophy of architecture, self-consistent, which really advances thought.